F&M Poll: Corbett’s Numbers Reach Historic Lows

Tom CorbettThe results of the latest Franklin & Marshall poll are devastating for Gov. Tom Corbett. His approval rating has reached its lowest point ever, and few voters believe he deserves to be re-elected.

Just 17%, fewer than 1 in 5, think Corbett is doing a good or excellent job as Governor. 43% said he is doing only a fair job.

Only 20% believe he deserves re-election. 69% said it’s time for a change.

Both numbers are lower than F&M’s May poll, which showed both Corbett’s job approval and deserves re-elect figures at 25%. It was, at that point, a record low for any Pa. Governor since the pollster began keeping track two decades ago.

Corbett vs other Guvs August 2013
Corbett vs other Guvs

The August poll shows his numbers among Republicans are anemic. Only 30% of Republicans give him favorable job approval ratings and only 38% believe he deserves re-election.

No demographic or geographic category gave Corbett positive marks. His worst region was Allegheny County, his home turf, which gave him just 11% job approval while 85% gave him fair or poor marks.

Central Pa. was his strongest region with a 22%/75% split.

One section asked respondents to grade the Governor based on his handling of specific issues.

Corbett on the issues August 2013

Miscellaneous

By a 37-point margin, 62% to 25%, voters say Pa. is on the wrong track.

The state legislature is less popular than Corbett. 11% rate its job performance as excellent or good.

Only 37% said they would like to see their member of the state legislature be re-elected; 33% said they wouldn’t, and 30% said they didn’t know.

Asked what should be lawmakers’ top priority this fall in Harrisburg, 29% said passing transportation spending plan, 24% said expanding Medicaid, 17% said a plan to address pensions, and just 5% said privatizing the state liquor stores.

F&M surveyed 594 registered voters from August 21 to 26 via live telephone interviews. The margin of error is plus or minus 4%. Pa. polls of registered voters as opposed to polls of likely voters tend to advantage Democrats and disadvantage Republicans. But any such disparity would not come close to changing the key takeaway from this poll: Corbett is on electoral life support.

25 Responses

  1. However, possession of marijuana is still illegal under federal and most state laws. It is low in fat, high in fiber, and takes quite a bit of chewing.

  2. Small wonder why. The transportation bill passed with a HUGE fuel tax increase. The same bill also has tax increases built into it for the next two years. It’s a slap in the face (and wallet) for those of us who either do not have access to or, use public transportation. But, we have the “privilege” of subsidizing the transportation costs of those who do.
    If that wasn’t enough, I heard that H-burg will be looking for even more area to tax to help balance the upcoming budget.

  3. Former Lower Merion Constable Eric Bradway Will WIN the Democratic Primary for Governor and go on to Beat Tommy One Note in the general

  4. Bob Guzzardi:” I agree with Mr. DiStefano posted here. We have nobody of stature willing to take Corbett on and the establishment”….
    I was wondering why Rendell was being gracious to Corbett on so many issues. I know now. Ed doesn’t want anyone to beat Tom Corporate in the primaries, to make sure of a democratic Governor.

  5. As I recall, in 1996, then interim AG Tom Corbett authorized the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield mega monopoly merger.

    Less competition means higher prices and lower quality as there is little incentive to improve either quailtiy or affordability.

    This seems to be a private dispute between private parties so it is not clear why government intervention is needed.

    This is not reported in SE Penna at all. Thanks PAINDY1 for alerting us to this issue.
    Any involvement of John Brabender and Leslie Gromis-Baker cannot be good for taxpayers. If Brabender is involved, then there is a political aspect to this. It is always hard to tell when Crony Capitalists are bribing the Political Insiders or when Political Insiders are extorting the Crony Capitalists.

    Unfortunately, the value of the Free Market seems not be an ascending value and we can expect more government involvement in more things.

    Health care will soon look like the USPS, another government sponsored and protected entity.

  6. WHO AUTHORIZED THE HARNER SMEAR LEAK? Why did the Corbett/Brabender adminstration link the firing of former acting Secretary Harner to leaked comments about a male colleague in a SPEEDO? Why was Harner really fired? Is the Brabender press office suggesting in these carefully orchestrated press leaks that Former Secretary Harner is an out control promiscious bi-sexual male? What did those Leaked SPEEDO comments really mean? Why are they smearing this guy Harner? What Charter School Contract or Scandal is this department burying for Acting Governor Brabender? WHICH CHARTER SCHOOL PROFITEER ORDERED THE DUMPING OF MR.HARNER?

  7. Time to connect the dots: So here’s the rumored lineups on the Insurance Wars scandals- (UPMC Scott Baker (husband of COS Gromis Baker-John Bravacos-former Ridge Staffer and founder Bravo Group////UPMC-(John Brabender)-Governor’s Office (COS Gromis-Baker///John Brabender acting governor). Isn’t there something wrong with this picture? Are these insurance wars really helping contain the costs of healthcare and the quality of healthcare in Pennsylvania? Aren’t all these Brabender minions and the Dark Prince Brabender himself just profiting off the egos of the UPMC and the Highmark leadership in an unseamly protection racket? What ever happened to all that concern we heard in the 2010 and 2012 elections for the JOB CREATORS? ISN’T IT TIME FOR COS GROMIS-BAKER TO TURN IN HER RESIGNATION? If you think UPMC and HIGHMARK need an intervention Pittsburgh Post Gazette, it begins with the resignation of COS GROMIS-Baker! Subject: UPMC, Highmark in need of intervention – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

    http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/brian-oneill/upmc-highmark-in-need-of-intervention-699313/

  8. Bob Guzzardi: I agree with Mr. DiStefano posted here. We have nobody of stature willing to take Corbett on and the establishment. You’re friends with Bruce Castor. Any chance he changes his mind?

  9. GOP Challenger Stiles Calls Upon PA 12th Congressional District Voters To Reject The Failed Tea Party Policies Of Keith Rothfus And His Mentor Governor Tom Corbett!

    GOP PA 12th Congressional District Candidate and Agent Orange Leukemia sufferer Larry Stiles called upon district voters to fire their employee Keith Rothfus: “ Tea Party Governor Tom Corbett designed this District for Keith Rothfus. Extremist Keith Rothfus is Governor Corbett’s personal Congressman. The lack of interest in Jobs by both Governor Corbett and his protégé Rothfus is holding back Western Pennsylvania. We need jobs here in our region, not in Washington DC. It is time for the voters of this district to fire Tom Corbett’s Tea Party MINI-ME, Keith Rothfus. I promise to fight every day for Jobs in Western Pennsylvania.”

  10. When he resigned as President of the United States in August 1974, Richard Nixon’s approval was 24%.

  11. Can we start planning the Corbett Library? Can we purchase some land at an inflated price from the Brabender Estate in Loudon County, Virginia? Certainly the Brabender-Corbett Library would feature exhibits on Political Necrophilia, the manhunt for Ray Gricar’s body, voter suppression and of course a full length feature film on Sandusky, perhaps paid for by the Paterno family. I am a DREAMER!

  12. Dear Mr. Jon Delano of KDKA, or Mr. Brad Bumstead: Please look into the emerging and rumored Insurance Wars Scandal. How did John Brabender secure his rumored attack ad contract with Highmark? Is Brian Nutt involved as the creative genius? Remember Brian Nutt?

  13. Joe’s comment may have been directed @ the D’s, but it may actually be more applicable to the R’s; superimpose polling of Corbett’s allegedly-problematic handling of Sandusky [as I’ve argued on this site for at least a year…plus elsewhere], and it’s amazing that a “Hugh Scott” delegation has not yet been assembled.

  14. Joe DiStefano states the obvious. Which is why I think we have a Democratic Governor in 2015 and why I think Pennsylvania slides toward Detroit.

    Florida is looking better and better.

  15. This sounds ominous . Corbett administration works to develop ‘creative’ Medicaid plan

    The Forgotten Taxpayer does not like “creative” government; the Forgotten Taxpayer likes limited government.

    Abandoning your base is not the way to win votes as Rick Santorum learned but John Brabender did not.

  16. This sounds ominous . Corbett administration works to develop ‘creative’ Medicaid plan

    The Forgotten Taxpayer does not like “creative” government; the Forgotten Taxpayer likes limited government.

  17. Maybe he should play his favorable and re-elect numbers in the PowerBall- before it’s contracted out – and if he hits – earmark the winnings for restoring higher Ed cuts , might yelp

  18. Corbett’s polls all time low. Corbett is vague confused and a loser
    Republican Corbett confuses with bipartisan bailout of Democratic Harrisburg

    Corbett appoints a former PSEA executive director as acting Sec. of Penna. education. This tells you why Corbett is a loser. Tom Corbett sounds a most uncertain trumpet.

    John Brabender gets paid win or lose.

  19. Corbett’s polls all time low. Corbett is vague confused and a loser

    Republican Corbett confuses with bipartisan bailout of Democratic Harrisburg http://tinyurl.com/ocsbn8u

    Corbett appoints a former PSEA executive director as acting Sec. of Penna. education. This tells you why Corbett is a loser. Tom Corbett sounds a most uncertain trumpet. http://tinyurl.com/qf8tqhf

    John Brabender gets paid win or lose.

  20. Corbett’s decision not to tax natural gas drillers will cost PA billions. Worst governor in PA history.

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